America’s obesity problem will come off in ounces, not pounds, if it comes off at all, experts say, but they were heartened by two decisions in the past week.

Thursday the U.S. Department of Agriculture finalized new snack rules for schools that will ban oversize sugar sodas, greasy potato chips and most candies for schools that want to continue receiving federal lunch money. Since most schools rely on the federal subsidies to run their programs, compliance is far from optional.

A Colorado student tries grilled cherries as part of a healthier snack showcase (Denver Post file)

“It would accelerate what’s already happening,” with many schools already taking the lead by revamping their lunch menus and restocking vending machines, Hill said. He reviewed earlier drafts for USDA, in part from his position as director of the Anschutz Health and Wellness Center at University of Colorado Denver.

One example of a new rule, Hill said, was that in high schools no drinks can be sold that have more than 60 calories per 12 ounces. That eliminates sugar sodas and many sports drinks. Drinks sold to younger children have even stricter limits.

While the food industry has protested, it will force greater creativity from them, Hill said. The ban doesn’t say “no pizza,” it just says that pizza sold has to meet maximums for fat, salt, calorie and other ingredients. An adaptable food like pizza can prompt real innovation, Hill said.

“We need to be clear this isn’t going to solve things alone; kids still eat a lot of food outside school and this doesn’t solve the activity part of it,” he said.

Still, combined with other moves, it’s a positive week, Hill added. Recently the American Medical Association agreed to characterize obesity as a disease, which may make it easier for consumers to get reimbursed for treatment costs through their insurance companies. That could help spread obesity-fighting methods that are proven to work, Hill said.